Another substantial bloc of Monday’s audience spoke up in defense of the nonprofit organizations that been nicked by the county manager’s pen.
Meredith Peffley, the executive director of Crossroads, pressed the commissioners to retain her group’s allocation, which amounted to $75,000 in the county’s current annual budget.
“Crossroads works hand in hand with essential employees who are employed by government entities. . . in a multidisciplinary capacity to bridge the gaps.”
– Meredith Peffley
“Nonprofits provide essential services by addressing what’s clearly visible as well as the more subtle community needs,” Peffley assured the commissioners. “Crossroads works hand in hand with essential employees who are employed by government entities…in a multidisciplinary capacity to bridge the gaps.”
In her proposed budget, Alamance County’s manager Heidi York had jettisoned the county’s $75,000 outlay to Crossroads as well as another $75,000 allocation to Family Abuse Services, which offers support to victims of domestic violence. York has also proposed to eliminate $125,000 that the county’s current budget earmarks for the Alamance County Rescue Unit.
In order to salvage the rescue unit’s allocation, Leslie Prince, a former member of this nonprofit service, tried to clarify just what it is that this volunteer organization does which isn’t accomplished by the county’s own departments and agencies.
Rescue not only deals with specialized emergency situations, they back up EMS…and without funding, rescue cannot be there for the citizens of Alamance County.”
– Leslie Prince
“Rescue’s canine unit assists when someone is missing,” Prince said. “When a local fire department trains with a live burn, they call rescue for rehab. When someone has an emergency along a body of water, they call the dive team…Rescue specializes in heavy equipment and extrication…Who do you think stabilizes vehicles so EMS can get access to their patients? Who do you think cut the cars to get individuals out?…Rescue not only deals with specialized emergency situations, they back up EMS…and without funding, rescue cannot be there for the citizens of Alamance County.”
Josh Shumate, a current member of the rescue unit, went on to inform the commissioners about the sterling reputation that the organization has beyond the borders of Alamance County.
“There are few rescue organizations in North Carolina, volunteer or paid, that are as well respected as the Alamance County Rescue Unit.
– Josh Shumate
“There are few rescue organizations in North Carolina, volunteer or paid, that are as well respected as the Alamance County Rescue Unit,” he insisted.
In the meantime, Christopher Mauney, the chief of the rescue unit, tried to assure the commissioners that his outfit is as good a steward of public tax dollars as any internal county department.
“Continued funding is not a handout. It is an investment in readiness and resilience and results when lives are on the line. . . We stretch every dollar…and we do more with less than many would think possible. . . It’s time to reaffirm that the safety of Alamance County is a shared priority.”
– Christopher Mauney
“Continued funding is not a handout. It is an investment in readiness and resilience and results when lives are on the line…We stretch every dollar…and we do more with less than many would think possible…It’s time to reaffirm that the safety of Alamance County is a shared priority.”
